National Alliance to End Homelessness

Newsletters | November 21, 2006

As the holiday season approaches and the temperature starts to dip, local reporters are likely to inquire about holiday-oriented activities by homeless service providers and what communities are doing to help homeless people. These are important questions to answer, and you can encourage your newspaper to ask questions that focus on ending homelessness. Here are some suggestions to move the conversation:

Remind reporters that while no one wants to be without a home during the holiday season, people are homeless in your community year-round, needing assistance of all types.

While many in the community reach out to homeless people during the holiday season, this type of support should be channeled year round by advocating for more units of affordable and supportive housing as a real solution to ending homelessness.

Are you serving fewer people this holiday season than last year? If so, discuss the strategies that your community is using to end homelessness.

For more tips on managing the media, contact Nell McGarity, Media Relations Associate at the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, non profit organization dedicated to solving the problem of homelessness and preventing its continued growth.www.endhomelessness.org

EXPERT Q & A

Take a five minute break from whatever you are doing to hear about emerging issues, new research, and personal stories from experts and leaders in homelessness and housing policy. This months expert is Dan Mudd, Chief Executive Officer of Fannie Mae.